function createRequest(){
  	try{ 
    	request = new XMLHttpRequest();
  	} catch(trymicrosoft){
		try{
			request = new ActionXObject("Msxm12.XMLHTTP");
		} catch(othermirocrosoft){
			try{
				request = new ActiveXObject("Microsoft.XMLHTTP");
			} catch(failed){
				request = null;
			}	
		}
	}
	
	if(request == null)
		alert("Error creating request object!");
}

function replaceText(el, text) {
	if (el != null) {
    	clearText(el);
    	var newNode = document.createTextNode(text);
    	el.appendChild(newNode);
  	}
}

function clearText(el) {
	if (el != null) {
	    if (el.childNodes) {
	      	for (var i = 0; i < el.childNodes.length; i++) {
	        	var childNode = el.childNodes[i];
	        	el.removeChild(childNode);
	      	}
		}
	}
}

function getText(el) {
  	var text = "";
  	if (el != null) {
    	if (el.childNodes) {
      		for (var i = 0; i < el.childNodes.length; i++) {
        		var childNode = el.childNodes[i];
        		if (childNode.nodeValue != null) {
	          		text = text + childNode.nodeValue;
        		}
      		}
    	}
  	}
  	return text;
}